Education

Oyo Govt. Rolls out Cholera Prevention Measures in Public Schools

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By Olawale Asake

Oyo State Government has rolled out measures to prevent cholera outbreak in public basic schools across the State.

The government has also advised Head Teachers to ensure that food handlers follow strict hygiene practices to prevent contamination.

The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran handed down the instruction in a statement in Ibadan.

He said, the state government, through the Board, is on top of its game to ensure public basic schools are taking steps to ensure the health and safety of its Pupils.

Dr. Adeniran equally urged parents, guardians, and school authorities to adhere to safety guidelines.

Dr. Adeniran said the Board would work with Education Secretaries, Head Teachers and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance.

The importance of hand washing cannot be overemphasized, recommending that children carry hand sanitizers and frequently wash their hands with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom.

Dr. Adeniran also recommended that Schools keep Oral Rehydration Salts, ORS, available in school clinics to manage dehydration cases promptly and to notify the State emergency hotline, 615, immediately in case of any health emergencies or suspected cholera cases.

The SUBEB chairman said, preventive measures including comprehensive health talks on cholera prevention among learners and staff, and safe drinking water practices will be conducted regularly.

Health

Cholera Outbreak: Lagos Records Six More Deaths

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No fewer than 37 deaths have been recorded in the current Cholera outbreak, which has hit 30 states, including Lagos and Ogun.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, in a statement on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs in the state Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, said the state had recorded an additional six cholera deaths as against the previous 15.

She said cholera cases had risen to 401 in the state.

On her part, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, told one of our correspondents that the state had recorded one death and 14 cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, in its recent report, said from January 1 to June 11, 2024, over 1,141 suspected and over 65 confirmed cases of cholera, resulting in over 30 deaths, had been reported from 96 local government areas in 30 states.

With the six additional deaths in Lagos, and one death in Ogun, the fatalities are no fewer than 37.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Organisation for Migration held an emergency meeting in Lagos over the cholera outbreak in the country.

Cholera is a food and water-borne disease caused by ingesting the bacteria— Vibrio cholerae— in contaminated water and food. Cholera can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea, and the severe forms of the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.

In Nigeria, cholera is an endemic and seasonal disease, occurring annually mostly during the rainy season and more frequently in areas with poor sanitation.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Foreign

Cholera Outbreak: Zimbabwe Declares State of Emergency

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Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency in the capital Harare over a cholera outbreak.

The outbreak has so far killed dozens of people with more than 7,000 suspected cases.

The city authorities say the outbreak, spreading throughout the city, has invoked memories of a deadly outbreak in 2008, in which thousands died.

“We have declared a state of emergency because of cholera,” local media quoted Mayor Ian Makone as saying.

The authorities are now asking for help to contain the spread and provide safe water, saying the aid being received is inadequate.

Health authorities have been struggling to contain the high number of admissions following the outbreak, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).

Zimbabwe has been battling the deadly cholera outbreak in recent months amid a lack of access to clean water.

The epicentre of the latest outbreak is Harare’s high-density suburb of Kuwadzana, which accounts for nearly half the reported cases, according to the authorities.

Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal infection is caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, It is treated with an oral rehydration solution, to replace the fluids and salts lost to diarrhoea and vomiting, the Harare Mayor said the cholera outbreak had similarities to the 2008 outbreak.

The outbreak then led to the deaths of over 4,000 people, with at least 100,000 infected, which led to a paralysis of basic services in the country.

This pushed then-President, Robert Mugabe into agreeing on a historic power-sharing deal with his long-time rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.

In 2018, the country declared a state of emergency after 20 deaths and more than 2,000 cases related to typhoid and cholera were reported

“The cholera outbreak has come with vengeance,” the mayor was quoted as saying on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health announced that the country had recorded 7,398 suspected cases, 50 confirmed deaths, and 109 people in hospital.

The IFRC says the disease is quickly spreading, affecting multiple geographical areas in 45 out of 62 districts and in all 10 provinces of the country, It says the outbreak can be expected to cross the border.

Neighbouring countries including Malawi, South Africa, and Mozambique have also frequently experienced cholera outbreaks in the past.

BBC/Adebukola Aluko

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Health

Oyo Govt. Alerts Residents Against Cholera Outbreak

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The Oyo State government on Friday has intimated residents and citizens of the State on the dangers of cholera outbreak, urging them to prioritise preventive measures.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ayoola Adebisi, disclosed this during a Press briefing with Media men in Ibadan.

This came at the heels of outbreak of cholera in some parts of the state-Ido, Akinyele and Irepo.

While Dr. Adebisi reassured the populace of Oyo State Government’s effective preparedness for the prevention of cholera outbreak, he pleaded with them to own their actions, by ensuring that they maintain hygienic practices.

The Permanent Secretary explained that cholera, is a water-borne disease that thrives in unhygienic conditions and is fuelled by practices such as eating or drinking of contaminated food or water.

He appealed to residents to ensure the use toilet facilities and avoid polluted water, large gathering of people or contact with persons with cholera.

He explained that Disease Surveillance officers in all 33 LGAs have been put on alert to institute preventive measures in their respective domains.

Furthermore, he said health professionals in public and private hospitals have been placed on alert, to promptly respond to outbreak of cholera in event of any occurrence.

Dr. ‘Bunmi Babalola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Health

Ekiti Govt. Confirms Previously Suspected Cholera Cases

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Ekiti State Government has confirmed three previously suspected cases of cholera in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani who made this known to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, said one of the cases was recorded among the Hausa Community in Otun Ekiti, Moba Local Government.

To this end, the Commissioner appealed to residents of the state to embrace regular hygiene and clean their surroundings to ensure hazard free environment.

Dr. Filani called on Traditional and Religious Leaders to convince their subjects on the need to get vaccinated, saying such remained a major way to end the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.

Ariola Afolabi

Health

Be alert for an outbreak of dry season-related diseases – Ogun Health Commissioner

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The Ogun State Government has called on all residents to be at alert for possible diseases of public health concern which are common during the dry season. 

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, in statement made available in Abeokuta, explained that diseases like Yellow Fever, Measles and particularly Cholera, which is a water and food borne disease, are rampant in the dry season.

According to her, Cholera is characterised by severe vomiting and diarrhea which can cause rapid deterioration of health and death, if not managed in a timely manner.

The commissioner advised residents with symptoms to seek immediate help from the nearest health facility, noting that early case detection and proper management could save lives. 

The Commissioner for Health explained that the reported case of the unfortunate demise of two school age children from the same school and same compound due to Gastroenteritis suggests a possible water borne disease, cholera.

Dr. Coker confirmed that the investigation led by herself with officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and Abeokuta South Local Government had revealed that the children died of severe case of vomiting and diarrhea and not as a result of deworming exercise which is ongoing in the state.

It would be recalled that two female pupils of Saint James African Church School, Idi Ape, Abeokuta were reported dead.

The deaths had led to the speculation that the deworm drug administered on the children in the school led to the incident.

Wale Oluokun

Health

Oyo State Govt. Refutes Cholera Outbreak Report

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Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello says there is no evidence to back recent claims of a cholera outbreak in Lagun Village of Lagelu Local Government area of the State.

A report by the ministry’s technical committee which investigated the matter signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello indicates that the claims of cholera outbreak are unfounded.

Dr Bello said the investigation by the technical team did not show any fresh grave or fresh burial ground to ascertain claims of mass death.

According to the report, the Ministry has placed pre-positioned antibiotics and intravenous fluids at the state’s health facility in Lagun to prevent an outbreak of cholera in the area.

The Commissioner added that the state has also begun an active case search in affected communities and neighbouring states as well as community engagement and enlightenment on the prevention of diarrheal diseases including cholera.

He maintained that the ailment could be ascribed to poor hygienic conditions, adding that the Ministry also suspected cases of gastroenteritis or likely food poisoning.

“The Ministry has also embarked on community engagement and enlightenment on prevention of diarrheal diseases including cholera”.

he said

He added “We have also embarked on active search in affected communities and neighbouring communities and have also alerted the neighbouring local government areas.”

It would be recalled that there was reported case of cholera outbreak recently in Lagun, Lagelu area of Oyo state

Iyabo Adebisi

Health

Oyo State Health Commissioner Allays Fears Of Residents on Cholera Outbreak

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Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bashir Bello says the state government is taking steps to ascertain the cause of the death of about Eleven people in Lagelu local government.

Radio Nigeria gathered that about eleven people had lost their lives while five persons were currently on admission for an ailment suspected to be cholera outbreak.

Dr. Bello said the sickness had not been established as results of samples taken from the victims were still being awaited.

He said all the persons hospitalized were responding to treatment, assuring the residents that the state was on top of the situation.

Some of the affected areas in the councils are Lagun and Ariku village.